Storm-shield and buggy-top.



PATENTED NOX/T12, 1907.

A. L. TRABUE. STORM SHIELD AND BUGGY TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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A Troie/VE )iS PATENTED NOV. l2, 1907.

{A.L.TRABUE.

STORM SHIELD AND BUGGY TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ALBERT L. TRABUE, OF MAYS, INDIANA.

STORM-SHIELD AND BUGGY-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 20. 1907. Serial No. 374,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. TRABUE, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Mays, in the county of Rush and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useiul Storm-Shield and Buggy-Top, oi which the iollowing is a speciiieation.

This invention relates to storm fronts for buggies, carriages and other vehicles and has ior its object to provide a storm iront or shield capable oi being readily attached to or detached from the vehicle and which will effectually protect the occupant or occupants of the vehicle from the action oi the elements.

A iurther object of the invention is to provide a storm iront or shield having its upper end attached to the vehicle top and its lower end fastened to the iront sill of the vehicle bed, said shield being so arranged as to permit iree access to and egress irom the vehicle.

A further object is to provide the shield with relatively stationary and movable side curtains having terminal interlocking hooks adapted to engage one oi the side bows or props oi the vehicle for supporting said curtains in closed position.

A further object is to provide means for yieldably supporting the lower end of the movable curtain in contact with the exterior walls oi the vehicle body, and means for retaining the upper edge oi said curtain in engagement with the interior oi the vehicle top thereby to prevent the entrance of rain or snow to the interior of the vehicle,

A still iurther object oi the invention is to generally improve this class oi devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the iollowing description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope ot' the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part oi this speciiication: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a storm iront or shield constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section oi the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the manner oi supporting the lower edge oi the movable curtain in contact with the vehicle body. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view oi the movable iront bow or prop oi the vehicle top. Fig. 6 is a top plan view oi the inner end of the frame supporting brace or arm. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of one end oi the movable curtain.

Similar numerals oi reference indicate corresponding parts in all oi the figures oi the drawings.

The improved shield forming the subject mattei' oi the present invention may be attached to buggies, cariiages and other vehicles and by way of illustration is shown applied to a buggy oi the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the body oi the vehicle, G the folding top, and 7 8 and 9 the side bows.

The storm shield or iront consists oi a substantially rectangular frame preferably iormed oi angle iron and having its lower end bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the iront sill 10 oi the vehicle bed, said frame being covered with a strip oi water prooi material 11 so as to iorm a closure ior the iront portion oi the vehicle.

Secured to the top of the irame l2 is a laterally extending hood 13 which over-laps the adjacent edge oi the vehicle top 6 and is provided with oppositely disposed attaching strips 14 adapted to engage suitable braces or arms 15 extending laterally irom the longitudinal side bars 1G oi the irame 12 so that by adjusting said straps the hoods 13 may be drawn tightly over the upper suriace oi the top (S and thus form a water tight joint between the two.

The iront bow 7 is detachably secured to the vehicle top and is provided at one end thereof with a reduced threaded extension 17 adapted to engage a correspondingly threaded socket 18 formed in the adjacent top bow 19 oi the vehicle top, the opposite end o1 the bow 7 being detachably secured to the juncture plate 20 by means oi a screw or similar clamping device 2l.

lt will thus be seen that by releasing the clamping screw 21 and rotating the iront bow 7, the latter may be readily detached from the top bow 19 so as to permit iree access to or egress from the interior oi the vehicle when the storm shield or iront is attached thereto.

The braces 15 are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the longitudinal side bars, as indicated at 22, and are provided with ofi-set portions 23 having openings 24 formed therein and adapted to register with the sockets 18 in the top bow 19 when the side bow 7 is removed, the iree end oi the brace 15 being extended rearwardly in parallel relation to the lower edge oi the vehicle top and provided with a terminal hook or clamping mem ber 25 adapted to engage the central side bow 8 oi the vehicle top, as best shown in Fig. 2 oi the drawings. lt will thus be seen that the arms 15 by engagement with the top bow 19 and sidebow 8 serve to reiniorce and strengthen the iront portion oi the vehicle when the iront bow 7 is removed as well as to assist in retaining the storm shield or iront in position on the vehicle.

The braces or arms 15 are secured to the top bow 19 by means ot screws or similarl iastening devices 26 while the loops or clamps 25 are provided with suitable iastening devices 27 ior clamping the loops in engagement with the side bows.

Pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the irame 12 is a window or closure 28 having a transparent plate 29 adapted to be swung upwardly on the pivot point 30 to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2 oi the drawings, said window or closure being secured in elevated or inoperative 'position by means oi a strap or similar suspension device 3l depending irom'the center bow 32 of the vehicle top.

Arranged on opposite sides oi the frame l2 and housed by the longitudinal angle bars 1.6 are spring actuated rollers 33, each provided with a iiexible curtain 34 adapted to iorm a closure ior the adjacent side of the vehicle so as to prevent the entrance of rain or snow in inclement weather. v

Secured to the free edges of the movable curtain 34 are vertically disposed metal plates 35 having their free ends bent laterally to form terminal hooks 36 adapted to engage the center bow or prop 8 thereby to lock the curtain in'closed or operative position.

The hooks 36 are preferably lined with a strip oi felt, rubber or other yieldable material 37 adapted to bear against the bow 8 so as to prevent abraiding, scratching or otherwise injuringthe bow.

The upper edge of each curtain 34 extends above the lower edge of the vehicle top 6 and bears against the interior wall oi the top while the lower edge oi each curtain over-laps the exterior side walls of the vehicle body so as to prevent the rain irom beating in at the sides oi the carriage.

As a means ior yieldably retaining the curtains in engagement with the top and body oi the vehicle, respectively, each curtain is provided with a longitudinally disposed spring bar or rod 38 which is preferably embedded or otherwise secured in or to the curtain in spaced relation to the adjacent plate 35.

The spring rod 38 extends the entire length of the curtain so as to prevent the upper edge of the curtain from dropping below the lower edge oi the top the intermediate portion oi the rod being bent inwardly, as indicated at 39. so as to yieldably support the lower edge oi the curtain in engagement with the exterior walls of the vehicle body, in the manner before stated.

Secured to the opposite sides of the vehicle top at the rear of the central bow is a relatively stationary curtain 40 having a window 41 formed therein and provided at its free edge with a longitudinal plate 42 bent to form a hook 43 similar in construction to the hook 36 and adapted to engage the center bow 8, It will thus be seen that when the curtains are in closed 01 operative position the hooks 36 and 43 will embrace the center bow 8 with the bill of each hook interposed between said bow and the adjacent hook so as to effec-y tually prevent accidental displacement of said hooks.

The storm front or shield is preferably formed with line receiving openings 44 and a horizontally disposed bar er rail 45 to assist the occupant or occupants of the vehicle in entering or leaving the latter. Suitable nger pieces 46 are also preferably secured tov the movable curtain 34 so that the latter may be Conveniently moved to operative or vertical position.

When it is desired to attach the storm front or shield to the vehicle the iront bow 7 is removed by detaching the screw 2l and revolving the bow 7 until the threaded end thereof is disengaged from the socket 18. The frame l2 is then placed in position on the vehicle with the lower edge thereof in engagement with the front end ror sill l() of the vehicle body and with the hood 13 over-lapping the front end of the vehicle top 6 after which the arms or braces l5 are secured to the top bow 19 by means of the screws 26 and the free ends of said arms secured to the central bow 8 by adjusting the fastening devices 27. After the parts are thus assem bled the straps 14 are Aadjusted so as to clamp the tree edge oi'the hood 13 in engagement with the vehicle top and the curtains adjusted laterally until the terminal hooks engage the center how 8 thus forming an effective closure for the vehicle and consequently preventing the entrance of rain or snow to the interior thereof.

In order to leave the vehicle it is merely necessary to detach the hook 36 from the adjacent center bow 8 when the tension of the spring roller will automatically wind the movable curtain on the roller so as to permit lreo exit at either side of the vehicle. y

Attention is here called to the fact that when the movable curtains are moved to closed or operative position the deiiected end 39 of the spring'rod 38 will bear against the adjacent wall oi the vehicle body but when the curtain is released the spring rod will assume a vertical position so as to permit the curtain to be readily wound on the spring rollers.

When it is desired to ventilate the vehicle it is merely necessary to swing the window or closure 28 upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and in which position it will be out of the way ol the occupants of the vehicle.

l't will of course be understood that the storm fronts or shields may be made in different sizes or shapes so as to adapt the same to different sizes and styles of vehicles.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. The combination with a vehicle having a folding top including top and side bows, the 'front side bow being removable and provided with a threaded extension for engagement with a corresponding socket formed in the adjacent top bow, of a storm shield detachably secured to the vehicle and provided with a hood for engagement with the vehicle top, an arm extending laterally from the shield, and a fastening device adapted to pierce the arm and engage the socket in the top bow when the movable side bow is detached.

2. The combination with a vehicle having a folding top including top and side bows, one of the side bows being removable and adapted to engage a socket formed in the adjacent top bow, a storm shield detachably secured to the vehicle and provided with a hood for engagement withthe vehicle top, a' supporting arm extending laterally from the storm shield and having an opening formed therein and adapted to register with the socket in the top bow when the removable side bow is detached' and a fas toning device engaging the opening and socket for securing the shield in position on the vehicle.

3l The combination with a vehicle having a folding top including top and side hows one of the side bows being removable and provided with a reduced extension adapted to engage a socket formed in the adjacent vtop bow, arms extending laterally from the shield and provided with means for engagement with one of the side bows, said arms being provided with openings adapted to register with the sockets in the top bow when the removable sidel bow is detached, clamping screws extending through the openings in the arms and engaging the sockets, roller car rying curtains mounted for rotation on the frame, and attaching straps carried by the opposite ends of the hood and adapted to engage the arms for clamping the hood in engagement with the vehicle top.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses, j

BERT L. TRABUE. Witnesses l D. M. TRABUE, JOSEPH CLAwsoN. 

